1995’s Party Girl (not to be confused with the 1958 Nicholas Ray film of the same name) is a cult classic—this is a hill I will die on. Starring The White Lotus’ very-own Lorazapam-loving princess, Parker Posey plays Mary, a carefree New York City party girl who loves—and lives for—fun, fashion, and living in the moment. When Mary is forced to get a job to avoid eviction, she takes on the unlikely role of a librarian position despite knowing little about books and even less about organisation. Through her journey of self-discovery and (sort of) personal growth, Mary learns the value of responsibility (again, sort of) without losing her quirky, sparkly charm.
The true star, however, is Mary’s wardrobe which spans an eclectic assemblage of kooky pieces that shouldn’t work together, but somehow do, and a never-ending rotation of patterned tights.
This is where Katie Holmes comes in, because call me crazy, but is the famous minimalist not looking a little Mary-esque in her latest look? First, there are the tights, a sheer brown pair (so hardly Mary’s candy-cane stripes, but still). Then there’s the shoes: a retro-looking pair of peep toes. Together they make an unlikely, but brilliant combo, especially considering Holmes’ famously pared-back aesthetic.
In fashion, some combinations are timeless, others are polarising, and then some surprise us. Holmes’ latest look sits somewhere between points two and three, and while at first glance, the combination might seem like a style misstep, as Holmes (and Parkey before her) have shown us, it’s actually one of the most intriguing trends of the moment.
Tights and peep-toe shoes have always existed in fashion’s peripheral vision, hovering somewhere between ‘what not to wear’ and ‘retro fun’. The clash between the sleekness of tights with the playful, exposed design of peep-toes is both bold and unexpected. In 1995, it was these precisely these playful combinations that made audiences fall in love with Posey’s scatter-brained, falafel-loving protagonist.
Today, tights and peep-toes chime with fashion’s obsession with unconventional styling, and even Katie Holmes, a celebrity who has almost become shorthand for quiet luxury has dipped a (peep) toe in the trend.
At its core, the pairing of tights with peep-toe shoes is one of fashion’s ultimate contradictions. Hear me out: tights are typically associated with winter, modesty and layering, they’re designed to cover and smooth and are often a signifier of formality (Royal protocol dictates female members must wear nude or sheer tights during public outings). By contrast, peep-toe shoes, with their open design, are seen as a warmer-weather pair that showcase rather than conceal. By merging these two elements, the wearer is challenging the idea that we have to adhere to seasonality and practical dressing codes. It’s peak Parker Posey in the 90s and perfectly captures Mary’s untameable character.
Scroll on for our edit of the best tights and peep toe pairings.
